STEVENS POINT - City bicyclists may have an additional 13 miles of shared lanes to ride through by 2020 if the city receives the grant to pay for most of the project.

The city decided this year to apply for funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program, which provides federal funding for projects like creating bike lanes, recreational trials and environmental mitigation activity. Stevens Point wants to use the grant to mark about a half marathon of shared lane markings to extend the city's bicycle transportation network.

The locations of the new lane markings are based on the Portage County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, which the city adopted in 2015. Proposed locations include a one-way buffered bicycle lane along Centerpoint Drive between Water and Main streets, sharrows on Clark Street between Water and Main streets, and two-way bike lanes along multiple portions of Michigan Avenue.

Tori Jennings and Trevor Roark, who lead the city's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, requested the city's support to apply for the grant and said this project would improve safety and tourism in Stevens Point. Roark said creating these new lanes would connect residents and visitors to major destinations in the city and would also reduce the number of people riding bikes on the sidewalk.

Jennings said earning the grant funding would help the city's chances in future grant applications.

"Receiving this grant would be a feather in the cap of this city," said Tori Jennings,

The grant reimburses 80 percent of the cost of a project, and the city requested $487,677 in its application. The city would have to front the money for the total cost, and its remaining obligation would be $97,536, according to the Community Development Department. The project cost includes design, engineering and review, which would be one-time expenses.

The grant application received unanimous support at both the committee and City Council levels, but it is not the final step in bringing the new lanes to Stevens Point. January's vote granted only approval to apply for funding. If the city receives the money, it will still have to vote to front the cost the project. Mayor Mike Wiza said he wants the money for the project to come out of its reserve funding instead of borrowing so that the city doesn't have to pay interest.

Once the lanes are marked, the city will be responsible for the full cost of maintenance, Wiza said. Before maintenance is required, he said the city may purchase equipment that so it can complete the work in-house.

"It wouldn't necessarily just be used for this project," he said. "We've got painting that we do all over the city, and we've contracted that out before, so there may be a cost savings to owning our own equipment."

City Council Member Jeremy Slowinski supported the project but said he was concerned about adding on to the staff's workload. Public Works Director Scott Schatschneider said he's comfortable with the project and believes his staff can handle the work.

"I think between now and then there's time for us to figure that out," he said. "This idea of this grant is, I think, critical for our community. This is the type of project that pushes us forward."

Sari Lesk can be reached at 715-345-2257 and sari.lesk@gannettwisconsin.com. Follow her on Twitter as @Sari_Lesk.